Contemporary Asian Cinema

Overview

This module discusses the place, role and status of cinema in the complex media environment of the 21st century in Asia. The impact of the so-called digital revolution, the influence of globalisation, and the evolution of the relationship between cinema and the visual arts will be addressed. Particular emphasis will be placed on contemporary Asian cinema, and the changing physical and cultural “place” of Asian cinema in the audio-visual experience of the contemporary film viewer, from the increasingly relevance of film festivals to the migration of films to the art museum and online.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

Demonstrate a specific knowledge and a comparative understanding of different aspects of contemporary Asian cinema

Demonstrate their ability to discuss key debates on contemporary Asian cinema in the field of Film Studies

Show in-depth understanding of the modes of production, distribution and reception of Asian cinema in the larger context of the current digital mediascape

Engage critically with the products of the contemporary media industry as well as with the works of influential filmmakers from different geographical and cultural areas

Produce articulate and convincing essays on contemporary Asian films, drawing on relevant critical material and proving their ability to analyse different kinds of audio-visual texts

Skills

Writing and analysing contemporary Asian films, genres, and critical issues. Technical skills in analysis of contemporary film cultures.

Assessment